Tuesday – Wednesday (3/28 and 3/29) GRAMMY-nominated singer Angie Stone is an artist with the Midas touch. Her buttery smooth honey-toned pipes, undeniable gritty soulfulness and epic songwriting talents have been called upon by everyone from Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few. We are proud to have her here at BBJ for two shows! In the 1970s, it was Angie Stone who helped to define the sound of the now legendary Sugar Hill Records as a member of the first recorded female rap group, Sequence. Their hit, “Funk You Up,” is a classic that gets folks moving to this day. Fast forward to the early 2000s when music industry A&R icon Clive Davis tapped Stone’s classic sound when he launched J Records. She recorded her gold-selling Mahogany Soul for the label. This in-demand Renaissance woman moves seamlessly from the studio and stage (she’s starred on Broadway) to television and silver screen without missing a beat. A legend in this tough business, Angie Stone stands in a class by herself. She will perform both nights at 8pm.

Thursday (3/30) In 2005, while working his “day job” at XM Satellite Radio as Director of Information Technology, Alvin Fisher was invited by a host of his friends to strut his musical stuff and play his flute before hundreds of people on the popular Smooth Jazz All-Star Cruise. All but stealing the show from A-list headliners Norman Brown, Michael Manson, Bobby Lyle, Candy Dulfer, Nick Colionne, and Brian Culbertson, the Washington, DC born and raised musician rediscovered the early musical dreams he set aside when he launched a successful 30-year career as an IT manager. Focused full time on his musical career since leaving XM in 2010, Fisher has been touring with an exciting new band of top DC musicians. His sound fuses styles from smooth and straight-ahead jazz to pop, R&B and funk, and Fisher’s set list features numerous originals as well as soul classics like “Lovely Day,” “People Make The World Go Round,” “Alfie,” “Summertime,” and “Harlem River Drive” by jazz/funk flutist Bobbi Humphrey. This concert starts at 8pm.

Friday (3/31) Come on out and join us as BRENCORE Entertainment Presents A Tribute to the Music of Phyllis Hyman featuring International Recording Artist SHANG and The BRENCORE ALLSTARS Band. Don’t miss the sensational SHANG as she pays respect to one of the greatest singers of all time. Singer-songwriter and actress Phyllis Hyman was best known for her singles from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, “You Know How to Love Me,” “Living All Alone,” and “Don’t Wanna Change the World.” She also performed on Broadway in the 1981 musical based on the music of Duke Ellington, Sophisticated Ladies. The musical earned her a Theatre World Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. Close your eyes at this tribute performance and you will hear the spirit and voice of the late great Phyllis Hyman as SHANG performs her great hits including “Betcha By Golly Wow,” “Old Friend,” “Meet Me on the Moon,” and more. The show starts at 8pm.

Saturday (4/1) The career of smooth jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows started out as that of a well-known sideman, recording or performing over the years with Brook Benton, Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carne, The Temptations, Michael Bolton, Angela Bofill, Will Downing, Bob Baldwin, Chuck Loeb, John Lee, among many others. In the late ‘80s, Meadows stretched his boundaries by becoming a member of a New York avant-garde band called the Aboriginal Music Society. In 1990, Meadows was signed to RCA records where he released For Lover’s Only, which was a huge success, It was followed by his groundbreaking Keep it Right There album. He became a staple of the contemporary jazz format with his subsequent recordings, which include Body Rhythm (1994) and Forbidden Fruit (1996), Passion (1997), Another Side Of Midnight (1999), Next To You (2000), In Deep (2002), Players Club (2004), Dressed To Chill (2006), Secrets (2009) Whisper (2013) and his current release, Soul Traveler. Marion Meadows will perform live at 8pm.

Sunday (4/2) How would you like to see The Rat Pack Together Again? Now you can through this Tony Sands Production! It will be a thrilling night of great music and song. Experience Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. performed with a wonderful mix of song, comedy, sketches, and brilliant musical arrangement accompanied by their eight piece live Big Band sound. This is a sensory experience you don’t want to miss, and the music that inspired and thrilled an entire generation. The Rat Pack Together Again brings these characters to life and makes them truly vibrant. The Times Herald says, “One of those shows that you simply must see while you’re in town.” They’ll perform two great shows at 1pm and 7:30pm.

Monday (5/2) We’ve got two great shows by the one-and-only Snarky Puppy! The once Texan, now New York-based quasi-collective has gone from the best-kept secret to one of the most respected names in instrumental music. Although still “underground” in many respects, the band earned its first Grammy Award in early 2014 (for Best R&B Performance) and has earned high praise from critical stalwarts like the BBC, The Village Voice, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, as well as the world’s most respected musicians from Pat Metheny to Prince. Snarky Puppy seamlessly fuses a deep knowledge and respect for musical tradition with sonic and conceptual innovation in a way that is able to reach the most critical or the most carefree audience. The band is a convergence of musicians from white and black America who also perform regularly with artists like Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Kirk Franklin, Justin Timberlake, Roy Hargrove, and Marcus Miller. Doors open at 5pm for the 7pm show, and again at 9:30 for the 10pm show.

Tuesday (5/3) Come out on Tuesday night for The Grainger Jam! Musicians and singers, this is a great opportunity to share the stage with bassist Gary Grainger, drummer Greg Grainger, and their world-class musician friends. The Grainger Jam is where you want to be whether you want to rock out with the band or just have some great food and beverages while you enjoy the music. Hosted by Brandon Combs and Bryan Fox with friends Vince Evans and Benji Porecki. The Jam starts at 8pm.

Wednesday (5/4) Let’s get ready to rumble… It’s NRBQ vs. Los Straitjackets! Two of the greatest live bands in America join forces to bring you the rock & roll event of 2016. There is no Pay-Per-View, and this bout will go the distance. Attendance is mandatory, and everyone will win. The legendary NRBQ released their latest studio album, the critically-acclaimed Brass Tacks, in the summer of 2014. “NRBQ is still liable to play anything. Roaring rockabilly, transcendent pop-rock, roadhouse blues, avant jazz – you name it.” —Minneapolis Tribune. Los Straitjackets are the leading practitioners of the lost art of the guitar instrumental. Using the music of Ventures, The Shadows, Link Wray, and Dick Dale as a jumping off point, the band has taken their unique, high energy brand of original rock & roll around the world. Clad in their trademark Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling masks, the “Jackets” have delivered their trademark guitar licks to 16 albums, thousands of concerts, and dozens of films and TV shows. This great double bill concert starts at 8pm.

Thursday (5/5) We are pleased to welcome British singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, actor, and Grammy Award winner Estelle! In league with other contemporary British female singers like Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Duffy, Estelle is known for her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul, reggae, grime, hip-hop, pop, and dance. She has experienced significant mainstream success with the single “American Boy” feat. Kanye West, for her collaboration with David Guetta in “One Love” and also with songs like “1980,” “Free,” “Break My Heart (feat. Rick Ross),” “Thank You,” and “Conqueror.” Other collaborations include John Legend, Robin Thicke, Chris Brown, and will.i.am. Since 2013, Estelle has voiced the character Garnet in the animated TV series, Steven Universe. The concert, with special guests Familiar Faces, begins at 8pm.

Friday (5/6) Come out and celebrate great songwriting and performance with Grin Again, a full-band tribute to Bethesda’s own Nils Lofgren’s legendary early 70’s band, Grin. Grin Again will perform the entire classic first album, Grin (“Like Rain,” “See What Love Can Do,” “18 Faced Lover”), along with 14 more best-of classics from the entire Grin catalogue including “White Lies,” “Moon Tears,” “Love Or Else,” “End Unkind,” “Beggars Day,” “You’re The Weight,” and more. Grin Again will let listeners experience the unforgettable songs Nils wrote for one of the early 70’s finest & most versatile bands. Showtime is 8pm.

Saturday (5/7) Bethesda loves Joe Clair & Friends! Our #1 Comedian/Host and DC’s Finest Joe Clair (WPGC 95.5 Joe Clair Morning Show) brings in the spring with what we love…a night of LMFAO! This time, it’s the Mother’s Day Weekend Edition – the I’ll Always Love My Momma Comedy Show! The other laugh-out-loud featured comedians will be Kareem Green, Hadiyah Robinson, and Omar Thompson. You know what time it is! Doors open at 5pm for the 7pm show, and again at 9:30 for the 10pm show.

Sunday (5/8) It’s The Rat Pack – Together Again! Relive the days of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. and their big band as they appeared in Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel Copa Room. This is the only Vegas-based show with national touring companies and an award from the Congress of the United States – now in its 17th smash year with over 5,000 performances in over 40 states, 3 foreign countries, and over one and a half million tickets sold. You’ve got two great opportunities to enjoy – the Mother’s Day Brunch show – Doors open at 11:30am for the 12:15pm show, and the evening performance – Doors open at 5:30pm for the 7:30pm show.

More upcoming events: The SOS Band, inGratitude: A Tribute to Earth Wind & Fire, Ronnie Laws, PJ Morton, Father’s Day with Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Lisa Loeb, Judith Hill, and so much more! Stay up to date with our Music Calendar.

Thanks for your friendship and support. We look forward to seeing you here at Bethesda Blues and Jazz for some great music or comedy soon!